MLB News

Stanton goes 5-for-5, but Rays walk off in 12th

By
J. Scott ButherusSpecial to MLB.com

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Yankees rediscovered their offensive groove, thanks to a big day from Giancarlo Stanton, but it wasn't enough to avoid a 7-6 loss in 12 innings and a series sweep to the Rays on Sunday.

Stanton finished his day 5-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, two doubles and two runs scored. It was the second five-hit game of Stanton's career and the first time a Yankee had accomplished the feat since Curtis Granderson on April 19, 2012.

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Yankees rediscovered their offensive groove, thanks to a big day from Giancarlo Stanton, but it wasn't enough to avoid a 7-6 loss in 12 innings and a series sweep to the Rays on Sunday.

Stanton finished his day 5-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs, two doubles and two runs scored. It was the second five-hit game of Stanton's career and the first time a Yankee had accomplished the feat since Curtis Granderson on April 19, 2012.

Stanton was a big part of a back-and-forth slugfest at Tropicana Field until Tampa Bay's Jake Bauers hit the first pitch he saw from Yankees reliever Chasen Shreve for a home run in the bottom of the 12th to hand New York its first three-game losing streak of the season.

Tampa Bay jumped on New York starter Domingo German for six runs on nine hits -- six of those for extra bases -- in three-plus innings. Kevin Kiermaier led off the game against German with a stand-up triple to the gap in left-center and scored easily on a double down the right-field line by Matt Duffy. Things would continue to deteriorate after Carlos Gomez smoked a line-drive double down the left-field line to plate Duffy.

The Yankees answered back with a three-run inning off Rays starter Matt Andriese. After Stanton crushed a line drive through the shift for a leadoff double and a walk to Aaron Hicks put men on the corners, rookie Miguel Andujar delivered a shot to deep left field for his 11th home run of the season.

The lead didn't last long, as German give up a solo home run to Adeiny Hechavarria in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game at 3. The Rays took the lead in the bottom of the third after German gave up a leadoff triple to Bauers to start the frame. Gomez brought him in with an RBI single to left and Mallex Smith followed with an infield single. Jesus Sucre cleared the bases with a double down the left-field line, just out of reach of a diving Andujar, to give the Rays a 6-3 lead.

"A really bad day for me," German said. "All of my pitches weren't there. I was leaving them up in the zone, and they were taking advantage of them."

The Yankees had a prime opportunity to rally in the fourth inning. A Stanton single and a walk to Gary Sanchez chased Andriese and put two men on with no outs. Rays reliever Jose Alvarado, however, slammed the door by retiring the next three batters -- including strikeouts of Hicks and Neil Walker -- to leave both runners stranded.

"We did some good things today," Boone said. "Unfortunately, working our way back there, we couldn't get over the top."

New York pulled back within one in the fifth after consecutive RBI doubles by Didi Gregorius -- who barely missed a home run over the right-field wall -- and Stanton. Stanton struck again to lead off the top of the eighth with a solo blast to left field -- his 19th of the season -- to tie the game at 6.

The Yankees had an opportunity to put the game away after Brett Gardner led off the top of the 12th inning with a bunt single off Rays reliever Jonny Venters, who appeared to injure his right leg on the play. Ryan Yarbrough was brought in to face Aaron Judge, who put Gardner in scoring position with a groundout to second base. A groundout by Gregorius and an intentional walk to Stanton set the table for Austin Romine, who ended the inning with a groundout to shortstop.

"As far as the losses, I look at it as a bump in the road," Boone said. "Unfortunately, it's bound to happen in a long season. You've just got to turn the page."

SOUND SMARTSunday's loss was the first time a Yankees opponent walked off with a victory this season. Prior to that, the Yanks were the only team in the Major Leagues that had not surrendered a walk-off win.

YOU GOTTA SEE THISIn the top of the ninth, pinch-hitter Clint Frazier skied a fly ball that hit a speaker attached to the "B" ring catwalk. Hechavarria was able to catch the ball as it fell near the edge of the outfield grass.

UP NEXTThe Yankees will continue their road trip with a three game-set against Philadelphia, starting on Monday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Led by Gregorius, who is batting .281 with four homers against National League opponents, the Yankees have hit 15 home runs in nine Interleague games this season. Righty Jonathan Loaisiga will face off against Vince Velasquez in the opener.

J. Scott Butherus is a contributor to MLB.com based in St. Petersburg.